Ethical Hacking News
US Indicts 17 Iranians Over Years-Long Cyber Espionage Campaign: A Global Impact on Academic and Private Sector Targets. The US Department of Justice has indicted 17 Iranians over a years-long cyber espionage campaign that targeted academic and private sector institutions worldwide, resulting in the theft of over 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property.
The US Department of Justice indicted 17 Iranians for a years-long cyber espionage campaign targeting institutions worldwide. The Mabna Institute, a Iran-based hacking group, stole over 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property. The operation, which began in 2013, targeted over 100,000 professor accounts in 24 countries. The stolen data was sold online, causing financial losses to victims estimated at over $20 million. The indictment also charges defendants with a previous high-profile hack that targeted HBO for $6 million in Bitcoin. The case highlights the importance of protecting American innovation and pursuing accountability for foreign cyber attacks.
The US Department of Justice has indicted 17 Iranians over a years-long cyber espionage campaign that targeted academic and private sector institutions worldwide. The operation, which involved the Mabna Institute, a Iran-based hacking group, resulted in the theft of over 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property from universities, companies, and government agencies across the globe.
According to the indictment, the Mabna Institute, which has been linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, conducted a sweeping campaign of cyber attacks that began as early as 2013. The group targeted more than 100,000 professor accounts worldwide, breaking into around 8,000 of them in over 24 countries. They used stolen credentials to access research papers, theses, dissertations, and academic journals, which were then sold online through websites such as Megapaper.ir and Gigapaper.ir.
The financial damage caused by the operation extends far beyond the value of the stolen research, with victims reportedly spending over $20 million investigating and cleaning up after the intrusions. The operation also involved password spray attacks against private companies and at least two government entities, causing further financial losses.
One of the most notable aspects of the case is the connection between the Mabna Institute and a previous high-profile hack, in which the group attempted to extort HBO for $6 million in Bitcoin. The indictment reveals that several defendants, including Behzad Mesri, were also charged with this earlier hack, demonstrating the scope and scale of the Mabna Institute's operations.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, stated that the case highlights the importance of protecting American innovation and pursuing accountability for those who target the United States from abroad. The indictment also underscores the ongoing threat posed by state-sponsored cyber attacks, which have become a central instrument of national power for many countries.
The indictment is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat cyber espionage and protect academic and private sector targets. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing the global threat of cyber attacks.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/US-Indicts-17-Iranians-Over-Years-Long-Cyber-Espionage-Campaign-A-Global-Impact-on-Academic-and-Private-Sector-Targets-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/197551/intelligence/us-indicts-17-iranians-over-years-long-cyber-espionage-campaign.html
Published: Thu Aug 20 05:02:54 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
